Azabu Juban festival!

Here it is… the Azabu Juban festival post! Unfortunately though I didn’t take many good photos… I went 2 nights, the first night I was just passing through in order to get through to Roppongi but I had my Canon with me, so I took a few shots once I got to Roppongi Hills. The second night I went I was with a friend and I just had my compact Fuji. Unfortunately we were more busy actually enjoying the festival and eating the delicious festival food that I didn’t take many photos. Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics! The Azabu-Juban festival is much larger than a typical one you might come across, so if you ever have the chance, I really recommend you check it out, it’s awesome!! The main attraction is really the food- not only is there the typical festival food such as yakisoba but since many embassies are located in the vicinity there is an area for all of the embassies’ stalls which sold the specialities of their representative countries. There were also stalls selling jewelery and clothes, a stall for face-painting, a stage for musicians, etc. I really should have taken more photos!

Photos with the Canon

These are pictures of the big bon-dance stage which was set up at Roppongi Hills…

My favourite shot from the whole festival

Photos with the Fuji

The festival gets REALLY crowded

Have you seen that bear before? It's 'Rirakkuma'!! He's very famous in Japan

People relaxing in a small park in the centre of Azabu-Juban, thankfully a great way to escape the crowds on the streets!

Info on the upcoming KAREN album

Just some quick info on the upcoming KAREN album. It’s called ‘Sunday Girl in Silence’ and contains 9 tracks. Unfortunately I haven’t found anywhere where you can stream the first single (called ‘Silver’) but as soon as it goes up on Youtube, it’ll be on the blog The album is gonna be released on the 26th of August and on the 28th… I’m going to their gig!!! It’s gonna be bloody awesome, I can’t wait! I have already seen them once before when they released their first album. They put on a pretty good show!!

A Glimpse of Azabu at night

Azabu is a really chic and stylish area located just next to Roppongi. It’s a great place to go for an evening walk. Considering that one of Japan’s most famous popstars Ayumi Hamasaki lives there too, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it’s one of Japan’s most expensive places to live!! In Azabu-Juban there are a lot of really neat restaurants though (one of my favourites being a really cool pasta bar where they make your meal right infront of you!), so I really recommend having dinner there sometime if you ever find yourself in Tokyo. The Azabu-Juban festival is happening on the weekend so expect pictures of that up on the blog soon! I need to do more night photography over there anyway, so hopefully there will be more good night shots on the blog soon!

Another round-up of kick ass music

Ok guys, here is some more Japanese music really worth checking out. First off is Jabberloop, a Jazz group from Kyoto which I’m going to see at the end of the month. I can’t wait!! These guys are so talented, check ‘em out!

Next up is Art-school with their ass-kicking new single, 14 Souls. Sounds really sweet, I am not a fan of their earlier stuff but if the rest of the new album is like this then I HAVE TO GET IT!!
(Video by the way was made by the Waseda University Film Society)
Also, remember I featured a band called KAREN on the blog a while back (it features members of Art-school)? KAREN are releasing a new album!!! I can’t wait to get it, I need to go to one of their shows before going back to England!!

Last we have a rather old video but it’s a classic, it’s 10-Feet’s great old-skool pop punk anthem ‘nil?’ (as featured on Adam and Joe Go Tokyo!)

The Bon Dance at a local shrine

It’s the ‘bon’ period in Japan again, which means shrines nationwide will be holding special dancing events and festivals in order to pay respect to the spirits of the deceased. I took a video of dancing last year which you can view here.

At that time though I didn’t know it was the bon dance. Anyway, since the shrine is in my neighbourhood I was there again this year and got some alright photos. I’m not completely satisfied with how most of them turned out but they’re not all that bad, hope you enjoy ‘em! Here are the ones which turned out the best…

Didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but I do like the ghostly effect which ended up being produced

Not where the festival was happening but taken on another street in the neighbourhood

Random uploads

Some random photos I’ve taken in Japan this summer which haven’t made it onto the blog yet. I’ve been trying to take some more artistic shots recently but my initial attempts haven’t been turning out so well. I’ll definitely work on it!

Distant view of Tokyo Tower from Hiroo...

Cool sign in Akasaka-Mitsuke

McDonalds in Shibuya...

Cool exterior for a florist (which is located just by Tokyo Tower!)

Pictures from Shiodome

Sorry for the late post, I’ve been busy these days. These pictures were taken whilst I was at Shiodome last week. The 3rd and final ‘20th Century Boys’ movie is going to be released at the end of the month and they had some pretty cool posters up for publicity. I’ve seen the first 2 movies and I can’t wait to see the final one!! Have any of you seen 20th Century Boys? What did you think? I haven’t read the original manga so I don’t really know how faithful the movie adaptations really are.

This really reminds me of something you'd find in a Ghibli movie! Unfortunately the picture didn't come out as well as I hoped... I have one taken of it during the day but I don't think that is on the blog...

Killing time in Takadanobaba

These pictures were taken a while before I actually went to Kansai but I didn’t have the time to put ‘em up until now. I was meeting a friend in Takadanobaba but I had some time to kill before he arrived so I decided to check out the area- I don’t know Takadanobaba very well. It’s actually a pretty awesome area and I definitely recommend visiting if you find yourself in Tokyo!

The shrine

I found a shrine which contained a special area to one side. I saw some people walking through the entrance and I decided to ask an old couple if there was any significance to this special part of the shrine. The husband told me that actually this area is only open 2 days each year and I was lucky enough to have just visited when it was open! According to the husband the shrine was built during the Edo period and this special area contains an area where people going to climb mount Fuji pray for a safe journey. They had some old photographs from the Meiji period hung on the wall to one side and within the area there were also sacred stones and other artifacts placed there. Unfortunately I didn’t get the name of the shrine (couldn’t read the kanji at the entrance) but it’s a pretty cool place to visit!

Waseda University

I eventually got to the campus of Waseda University. You probably know already but Waseda Uni is one of Japan’s most prestigious universities. My university has an exchange program with them but I don’t think it’s the university for me. I’ve pretty much decided on Doshisha University . Anyway, the campus is pretty damn nice. It’s a great place to take a walk!

Really neat map which was made by members of the university's Manga Society...

These last 3 pictures were just taken on the streets of Takadanobaba…

Jimmy Eat World in Japan!

Well, considering Jimmy Eat World are one of my all-time favourite bands, this video would have made it’s way to the blog at some point eventually… and that point is now! The video features Jim singing along to an alternative version of A Sunday (the original version can be found on the band’s Clarity album). I definitely need to track down an MP3 of this version. Anyway, I love both versions and it’s a pretty neat video. If ya dig JEW, then be sure to check it out!!

Random shots

Just a collection of random photographs I’ve taken recently, including the pictures from Kyoto. Enjoy!

Taken at the Imadegawa campus of Doshisha university in Kyoto. Believe me when I say the campus is beautiful! This university looks bloody awesome, and I’m seriously considering doing my exchange year over here. BUT… I’m also considering Sophia university in Tokyo, I’m seriously torn between these 2 places because they both have their own advantages and disadvantages… it’s gonna take me a looooong time before I decide!

Taken near Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto. This is a brilliant place to go if you’re looking for souvenirs by the way, the shops sell of a lot of yatsuhashi which is a delicious Japanese sweet!

Stormy skies in Kyoto…

Near Akasaka-mitsuke in Tokyo…

…somewhere in Aoyama…

Background is actually the gate for an elementary school somewhere near Harajuku…

What do you guys think? I normally don’t photograph street art but I had to make an exception for these works hehe… Hopefully more photos will be up soon, will have to get out and scout more good places!!